LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- In its first week back from spring break, Covenant College welcomed warmer temperatures and new teams into the spring sports foray. Softball, baseball, and tennis continued their seasons, while golf began its spring quest with a tournament in Rome, Ga.
Playing for the first time in 2011, the Covenant College golf team traveled to Rome, Ga., for the Rome News-Tribune Invitational. Competing amidst a field of 15 competing teams, the Scots rode freshman Cameron Lewis' team-best 152 to a twelfth place finish at the two-round event. Sophomore Jon Jon Spencer was second on the team with a score of 156, and finished the event tied for 51. Lewis finished tied for 31. The golf team will look to improve upon its below-average performance when it hosts the Reeder Cup on April 4. Covenant's lone female golfer, Jordan Agate, did not compete in week 28.
The men's tennis team continued its poor run of form with two losses last week to Georgetown and Campbellsville, dropping the team's 2011 record to 1-7. Even amidst the defeats, though, Covenant's senior number one Josh Jeremiah has continued to shine, winning both of his singles matches in last week's games and earning NCCAA player of the week for the second time this season.
Meanwhile, the women's tennis team didn't manage to fare any better, falling 7-2 to Georgetown and 8-1 to Campbellsville. Like the men, the Lady Scots have won just one event this year, and have an overall 1-8 record on the season. Jane Shibley and Anne Marie Rowe were the only singles victors for the two matches won over Georgetown, while the doubles combo of Stephanie Sizemore and Kelsey Whitted accounted for the lone point against Campbellsville.
Elsewhere, the baseball team returned to winning ways after a humiliating 16-0 loss to Bryan College early in the week by sweeping Hiwassee College in three games. The first, a 14-0 domination, saw Jared Carlson and Sterling Witt lead with 3 RBIs apiece, while junior pitcher Tyler Smith gave up just one hit in the shutout performance. The second two games were won by 11-2 and 16-1 scorelines, and saw the Scots advance to 12-6 on the season. Tyler Smith leads the NCCAA in wins at 6-0, while Taylor Oldham is tied for the national lead in home runs with 6.
Unlike the baseball team, the softball team couldn't manage to get out of its mid-season slump as the ladies fell in four games to Birmingham Southern College and Emory University. In the games against BSC, the Lady Scots lost 9-5 and 14-5, but got stellar play from sophomore Morgan Booker and her 4 RBIs. Against Emory, a Kristen Walker double and Courtney Wagoner home run accounted for the team's only runs of the day. The Lady Scots are now 4-6 on the season.
